Energy Affordability Challenges in New York

New Yorkers age 50 and older are calling on elected officials to address energy affordability, with the overwhelming majority reporting higher costs over the past year. New AARP research finds that many older New Yorkers are now making difficult tradeoffs due to the costs of their utilities, including cutting back on other essential spending.

New Yorkers expect elected officials to act on energy affordability

There is an overwhelming consensus among older New Yorkers that energy affordability is a responsibility of state leadership. At the same time, many feel that current efforts have fallen short of effectiveness. Most (93%) agree state elected officials should work to ensure utility costs are affordable, while 72% say officials are not currently doing enough. Among likely voters, 65% say they are more likely to support a candidate who promises to work on lowering utility rates.

Rising energy costs are widespread

Utility costs are rising for most older New Yorkers, with 84% reporting increased household utility bills within the past year. Of those, 43% say that their monthly costs have increased significantly, and 41% say that costs have increased somewhat. Even more (88%) say they are concerned about their utility costs increasing.

Older adults are making tradeoffs to afford utilities

Older New Yorkers strongly believe that people should not have to choose between paying for utilities and paying for other necessities like food and medicine. For many, however, covering the costs of their utilities has meant making difficult tradeoffs. In the past year, half (49%) of those who pay a utility bill have cut back on basic expenses like groceries as a result of the costs of their utilities. Further, more than 1 in 5 (22%) have borrowed money or taken on more debt to afford their utilities.

Many support reforms that focus on consumer needs

The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers age 50-plus support proposals aimed at ensuring that more attention is paid to residential utility customers’ needs, such as:

• simplifying the process for medically vulnerable residents to verify their medical need for uninterrupted service
• assigning an independent auditor to review utility company operations if rates become unaffordable
• offering bill credits if utility company earnings exceed agreed upon amounts
• increasing consideration of consumer needs when rates are developed

Implications

For older New Yorkers, energy affordability is of significant concern, with rising utility costs affecting household budgets and, for many, leading to difficult financial tradeoffs. For many who are living on fixed incomes, fluctuations in energy costs can create added financial instability.

There is a clear expectation that state leaders should be doing more to address energy affordability as well as to protect vulnerable populations.

Methodology

Findings are based on an AARP survey of 1,008 New York residents age 50-plus conducted February 4 to 11, 2026, by ReconMR. The mixed-mode survey used a sample of landline and cell phone numbers, as well as an online panel. Data are weighted to reflect New York State’s population age 50+ based on age, region, race/ethnicity and gender.

For more information, contact S. Kathi Brown at skbrown@aarp.org.  Media inquiries should be directed to Brandon Vogel at the AARP New York State Office at bvogel@aarp.org.